The issue of ‘dark patterns’ has received serious attention from the government, with Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Singh urging e-commerce firms to develop a self-regulatory framework to tackle this problem. The e-commerce industry is the primary contributor to such practices, which deliberately deceive consumers, such as automatically adding items to a shopping cart without their consent, manipulating prices during checkout, and creating a false sense of urgency to influence buying decisions. Singh has called upon leading players in the sector, including Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy, and Zomato, to collaborate with the Advertising Standards Council of India and law firms to draft a framework in the next two months.
Education and awareness are essential aspects as both consumers and sellers may not be aware of these unethical tricks used by intermediaries for increased sales. If such practices persist, even after implementing a self-regulatory framework and awareness programs, the government may consider introducing specific regulations on the matter. It is imperative to note that dark patterns are classified under unfair trade practices, and current consumer protection laws offer broader jurisdiction. While acknowledging that enforcement of the law could be counterproductive, Singh emphasized the need for a systematic approach.
Manisha Kapoor, Ascis’s CEO, revealed that the advertising industry’s self-regulatory body would soon publish its guidelines concerning dark patterns. She stressed that the scope of the issue extends beyond advertising into other areas such as transactions and subscriptions. The government has also emphasized to e-commerce firms that they have a responsibility to ensure consumers’ trust in their brand. They cannot evade liability if something goes wrong. ONDC, a state-promoted open network for digital commerce, is distinct from e-commerce players as it involves a protocol that includes buyers, sellers, and marketplaces like Amazon and Flipkart.
In unrelated news, OnePlus launched its first tablet, the OnePlus Pad, in India, only available in the Halo Green color option. We discussed this and more on “Orbital,” the Gadgets 360 podcast available on popular platforms such as Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.
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